Circle acquired nearly 1,000 IBM blockchain patents, including over 680 patent families spanning blockchain technology, banking, financial services, insurance, enterprise infrastructure and secure cloud operations, making Circle the leading holder of blockchain patents in the United States. USDC led adjusted transaction volume at roughly 70% compared to Tether’s USDT at 25% during the first half of 2026, with adjusted volume reaching a record $1.79 trillion in June and $8.82 trillion for the first six months. Major banks including Standard Chartered and BNY have deepened their USDC integration, though Circle has not disclosed what it paid for the portfolio or how it intends to monetize it. IBM’s simultaneous participation in the OUSD ecosystem while selling patents to Circle creates a notable competitive overlap in the stablecoin landscape.
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